Issues with Olympic Gymnastics

            From generation to generation, the Summer Olympics have continued to dominate the global sports scene once every four years. Recently, there have been many rule changes to a variety of competitions and have changed the modern day Olympics. After a weekend of this edition of the Summer Olympics, there are issues that need to be commented on.

            In an extraordinary form of flipping and twisting, the women’s gymnastics competition began with a thrilling and beautiful sense of style and amazement. On the first night, squads fought for the top eight positions to advance while individuals worked to qualify for the 24 all-around spots. This is where the rules began to put a damper on women’s gymnastics. Instead of the logical format of advancing the highest 24 individual scores, there is a limit of just two gymnasts that can move on to the all-around final. The United States produced three gymnasts that would easily finish in the top 24 spots.  Olympic Trials champion Gabby Douglas, former World Champion Jordyn Wieber and upstart Aly Raisman were competing for those two delegated spots in the top 24 from the American team. In a stunning finish and wonderful floor routine from Raisman, Wieber was eliminated from the all-around competition and was forced to just help the team.

            The International Olympic Committee was trying to give the lesser nations’ competitors more of a chance in medaling by changing the rules. They wanted to diminish the amount of gymnasts from the larger, powerhouse countries and give those spots to the underdogs. In theory, the IOC was trying to create more interest from the small countries and introduce parity to a sport that is traditionally top-heavy. By trying to make a more competitive internal team round, the IOC actually makes the individual all-around final less competitive. The World Champion, Wieber, who easily qualified in the top 24, will not flip or twist for the all-around gold because she finished third on an ultra-competitive team.

            Judging has always been a controversial issue when it comes to gymnastics but this time a new rule continues the long line of frustrating gymnastics conclusions.